Tandem folding implement

ABSTRACT

Tandemly disposed tool beams project laterally outwardly from opposite sides of the central tongue of the implement and may be swung horizontally between laterally widespread, working positions and folded back, compacted, transport positions. Collapsing linkages between the tongue and the front beams control swinging of the latter, while stiff links between the front and rear beams serve to maintain a selected angular relationship between the front and rear beams in the working and transport positions. Outer sections of the front linkages are extensible for adjusting the draft angle of the front beams, while the stiff links are likewise extensible for adjustment of the angle between the front and rear beams.

This invention relates to folding agricultural implements and, moreparticularly, to a tandem implement, such as a tandem disc harrow,wherein the front and rear gangs of discs may be folded from laterallywidespread working positions to laterally compacted transport positions.

One important object of the present invention, therefore, is to providea way of folding tandemly disposed tool beams horizontally into acompact condition to enable the machine to move along roads, throughnarrow gates and over confining bridges so as to avoid the problemsinherent in vertically folding implements of this type including, forexample, the need for powerful, complex and costly hydraulic systems forlifting the heavy beams into upright positions, and the ever presentdanger of interfering with overhead obstacles, such as tree limbs, powerlines, building structures and bridge trusses.

Another important object of this invention is to accomplish theforegoing through a relatively uncomplicated arrangement of verticalpivots, links and linkages which maintains the beams firmly in aselected angular relationship to one another and to the tongue while inthe working position and, yet, allows the beams to be readily foldedinto their transport positions for roading.

An additional important object of this invention is to provide a way ofquickly and easily changing the draft angle of either the front or rearbeams, or both.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a tandem implement shown in its widespreadworking position and constructed in accordance with the principles ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof with the beams folded rearwardly intotheir transport positions;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary detailed view, partially incross-section, of a typical control link or linkage illustrating itstelescopic capability for purposes of angle adjustment; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary detailed view of a typical pivotalmounting for the tool beams.

The implement has a central, fore-and-aft extending tongue 10 providedwith a hitch 12 at its forwardmost end for attachment to a towingvehicle (not shown). Hydraulically actuated ground wheels 14 support thetongue 10 for over-the-ground travel and may be raised and loweredrelative to the tongue 10 for the purpose of varying the depth of theground penetrating tools of the implement.

Approximately midway between the front and rear ends of the tongue 10, apair of support arms 16 extend laterally outwardly from opposite sidesof the tongue 10 and carry a pair of front tool beams 18, respectively.Each arm 16 supports its beam 18 through a connection 20 (illustrated indetail in FIG. 4), which includes a vertical pivot 22, a depending yoke24 rotatable about the axis of the pivot 22, and a transverse pivot 26between the yoke 24 and the beam 18. Accordingly, each beam 18 can swinghorizontally about its vertical pivot 22 for folding or unfolding theimplement, as well as vertically about its horizontal pivot 26 toaccommodate changes in ground contour.

Each beam 18 is preferably jointed at mid-length such as to divide thesame into a pair of end-to-end segments 28 and 30 interconnected by ahinge 32 for relative up-and-down swinging movement. Segments 28 and 30have their own, forwardly disposed castor wheels 34 and 36,respectively, such that each segment 28 and 30 has a degree ofindividual responsiveness to ground contours. As illustrated by way ofexample, each beam 18 may carry a gang of discs 38 coaxially mountedbeneath beam 18 for ground engagement.

Each beam 18 is also provided with its own individual folding controllinkage 40 having a joint 42 intermediate the opposite ends thereof. Anouter section 44 of each linkage 40 is connected at its outermost end tothe outer segment 30 of the corresponding beam 18, such connection beingmade through a vertical pivot 46. On the other hand, an inner section 48of each linkage 40 is connected at its inner end to the tongue 10 at apoint just forwardly of the wheels 14 through a vertical pivot 50. Byvirtue of this arrangement, the linkages 40 permit the beams 18 to befolded rearwardly from their widespread positions of FIG. 1 to theircompacted positions of FIG. 2, the linkages 40 unfolding from apartially collapsed condition against the tongue 10 toward a partiallyextending condition away from the latter during such rearward swingingof the beams 18. A suitable latch 52 on the tongue 10 adjacent hitch 12may be used to releasably retain the linkages 40 against the tongue 10,if desired, such latch 52, for example, engaging the linkages 40 throughapertures 54 in extensions of the inner sections 48 slightly beyond thejoints 42, as illustrated best in FIG. 2.

Disposed in tandem relationship behind the front beams 18 is a secondpair of tool beams 56, each of which is attached to the tongue 10through a short, laterally projecting member 58 and a connection 60 ofthe same design as the connection 20 for the front beams 18.Accordingly, each connection 60 enables its beam 56 to swinghorizontally about a vertical pivot 62, as well as vertically about ahorizontal pivot (not shown) in the same manner as the front beams 18.

Also in the same manner as the front beams 18, the rear beams 56 areeach medially jointed through a hinge 64 that permits vertical swingingof an inner segment 66 and an outer segment 68 of the beam 56. Each beam56 may be provided with its own gang of discs 70 in the same manner asthe beams 18, although the discs 70 are reversed with respect to thediscs 38 so that, during operation, the discs 38 throw the soiloutwardly while the discs 70 return the soil inwardly. Castor wheels 72and 74 on the segments 66 and 68, respectively, support each beam 56 forover-the-ground travel, and it is to be understood that all castorwheels 34, 36 and 72, 74 are attached to their respective beams 18 and56 in the well known manner for permitting raising and lowering of thebeams 18 and 56 to vary the extent of ground penetration by discs 38 and70.

A stiff link 76 extends between the front beam 18 and the rear beam 56on each side of the tongue 10, respectively, and such links 76,cooperating with the linkages 40 and the latch 52, conjointly definewhat may be referred to as apparatus for controlling the angularrelationships of the beams 18 and 56 with one another and with thetongue 10. A vertical pivot 78 at the front end of each link 76,respectively, connects the latter to the outer segment 30 of a beam 18,while a second vertical pivot 80 connects the rear end of each link 76,respectively, with the outer segment 68 of a beam 56. Preferably, eachlink 76 is so disposed and is of such a length that it maintains its twofront and rear beams 18 and 56 in a laterally outwardly divergingrelationship to one another when in the working position of FIG. 1.Moreover, such disposition of the links 76 is so selected that the beams18 and 56 will fold back into substantial parallel alignment with oneanother and with the tongue 10 when in the transport position, asillustrated in FIG. 2. In this respect, the location of the pivots 78and 80 along their respective beams 18 and 56 must be carefully selectedin view of the fact that the front beams 18 swing rearwardly throughmore than 90' of travel while the rear beams 56 swing rearwardly throughsomething considerably less than 90'.

FIG. 3 illustrates in detail the way in which the linkages 40 and thelinks 76 may be made longitudinally extensible for the purpose ofvarying the draft angles of the beams 18 and 56. Although the outersection 44 of a linkage 40 is illustrated in FIG. 3, it will, of course,be understood that the principles therein illustrated and hereinafterdescribed apply equally to the links 76.

Each outer section 44 comprises a pair of relatively telescoping members82 and 84, the latter being received within the former. The members 82and 84 are preferably tubular, and upper and lower openings 86 on thetwo members 82, 84 may be brought into vertical registration with oneanother for the purpose of receiving a connector 88 which may be in theform of a bolt. If desired, more than two of such bolts 88 may beutilized to make each connection inasmuch as, in many instances, morethan two sets of the openings 86 will be in registration with oneanother.

In use it may be well to provide a bumper (not shown) between the twobeams 56 for the purpose of limiting their travel toward one another inorder to prevent damage thereto when in the transport position. Suchbumper may be common to both of the beams 56, in which event it would bemounted on the rearmost end of the tongue 10, or, one or more individualbumpers can be provided on each beam 56, as may be necessary ordesirable.

When the latch 52 retains the linkages 40, as illustrated in FIG. 1, thebeams 18 and 56 are held in their widespread, operating positions, andthe selected angular spacing between the front and rear beams 18 and 56is maintained by virtue of the stiff links 76. When a field operationhas been completed, the latch 52 may be released (such as by pulling ona rope, not shown, leading to the seat of the towing vehicle), whereuponcontinued forward movement of the tongue 10 causes the beams 18 and 56to automatically fold back toward their transport positions of FIG. 2.Prior to such fold back, the discs 38 and 70 may be disengaged from theground by raising the tongue 10 and beams 18, 56 through an appropriatehydraulic system coupled with the wheels 14 and the castor wheels 34, 36and 72, 74, as above-discussed.

With the beams 18 and 56 folded back in this manner, the implement canbe readily towed along the open road, through narrow gates and bridgeswith ease, and all without fear of striking any overhead obstacles, suchas high voltage electric lines, overhanging trees, or bridge trusses.Note that, preferably, the pivots 20 for the front beams 18 are disposedsubstantially laterally outboard of the pivots 62 for the rear beams 56.This permits the beams 18 and 56 to swing freely without interferencewith one another between their respective working and transportpositions. Note further that through the use of the castor wheels 34, 36and 72, 74, the beams 18 and 56 readily swing into their transportpositions inasmuch as the castor wheels 34, 36 and 72, 74 inherentlyseek a disposition in which their axes of rotation are transverse to thepath of travel of the implement.

When the implement is to be unfolded from its transport position, it isonly necessary to back the tongue 10 such as to urge the beams 18 and 56outwardly from their parallel relationships to one another toward thediverging condition illustrated in FIG. 1. Note in this respect that ifeither of the beams 18 and 56 on one side of the tongue 10 resists suchunfolding, this tendency will be overcome by the other in view of theirpositive interconnection through the link 76. This, then, assurescomplete unfolding to the working position without requiring that theoperator step down from the vehicle and manually manipulate the beams 18and 56. Once arriving in their working positions, the latch 52 may bereplaced to firmly retain the widespread condition.

In the event that the operator may wish to vary the draft angle of thebeams 18 and 56, such can be readily accomplished by virtue of thetelescoping nature of the linkages 40 and the links 76. In this respect,note that it is only necessary to release and remove the appropriatebolts 88, telescope the members 82 and 84 in the appropriate directionand to the appropriate extent, and reinsert the bolts 88. If desired, ofcourse, the front beams 18 alone may be adjusted while retaining theoriginal angle between the latter and the rear beams 56. On the otherhand, it may be necessary or desirable to adjust the draft angle notonly of the front beams 18, but the rear beams 56 as well, and such canbe readily accomplished.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:
 1. A tandem folding implementcomprising:a central, fore-and-aft extending tongue; a first pair oftool-supporting beams projecting laterally from opposite sides of thetongue; a second pair of tool-supporting beams behind said first pairand projectng laterally from opposite sides of the tongue. said tongueand said beams being supported for over-the-ground travel in thedirection of the longitudinal axis of the tongue; means mounting saidbeams for horizontal swinging movement between laterally widespreadworking positions and laterally compact, transport positions, each ofsaid beams having its own upright axis about which said swingingmovement of the beam occurs with each said upright axis being spacedapart horizontally from each other said upright axis; and control meanscoupled with said beams for maintaining the latter in preselectedangular relationships with respect to one another and said tongue insaid working and transport positions, respectively, said control meansbeing coupled with said beams in such a manner that the two beams oneach side of the tongue are constrained to move in the same directionduring said swinging movement thereof about their axes.
 2. A foldingimplement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said beams are adapted to swingrearwardly into the transport positions from said working positions. 3.A folding implement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control meansincludes means for releasably retaining the beams in their workingpositions.
 4. A folding implement as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidcontrol means includes a stiff link between the beams on each side ofthe tongue, respectively.
 5. A folding implement as claimed in claim 4,wherein each link is disposed to maintain its beams in laterallyoutwardly diverging relationship to one another when in said workingposition and at least substantially in line with the path of travel ofthe implement when in said transport position.
 6. A folding implement asclaimed in claim 5, wherein the axes of swinging movement of one pair ofthe beams is disposed laterally outboard of the corresponding axes ofthe other pair of beams, said links each being disposed to maintain itsbeams substantially parallel to one another in said transport position.7. A folding implement as claimed in claim 6, wherein said beams areadapted to swing rearwardly to said transport position from said workingposition.
 8. A folding implement as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidcontrol means includes a folding linkage between the tongue and one beamon each side of the tongue, respectively, each linkage being swingablebetween a partially collapsed condition against the tongue when its beamis in the working position thereof and an extended condition away fromthe tongue when its beam is in the transport position thereof.
 9. Afolding implement as claimed in claim 8, wherein said linkages aredisposed for rearward swinging of their beams from the working positionto the transport position.
 10. A folding implement as claimed in claim8, wherein said control means further includes a stiff link between thebeams on each side of the tongue, respectively.
 11. A folding implementas claimed in claim 10, wherein said folding linkages are between thetongue and said first pair of beams.
 12. A folding implement as claimedin claim 11, wherein the axes of swinging movement of said first beamsare laterally outboard of the axes of swinging movement of said secondbeams, said linkages and said links being disposed to maintain the beamson each side of the tongue laterally outwardly diverging in said workingposition and substantially parallel with one another and the path oftravel of the implement in said transport position.
 13. A foldingimplement as claimed in claim 11, wherein said control means furtherincludes means on the tongue and engageable with said linkages forreleasably retaining the beams in said working position.
 14. A foldingimplement as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of said linkages includespivotally interconnected, laterally inner and outer sections, said outersection of each linkage being extensible for varying the angle at whichthe beams project from the tongue in the working position.
 15. A foldingimplement as claimed in claim 14, wherein each of said links isextensible for varying the angle between the beams on each side of thetongue, respectively.